8. Cecil

Chapter 8

Ihad my cry. I was over it now. Well, not really. It would take a little more time to completely get over the things that had been said, but I knew I was in a better place now than I had been the last time I'd been at my parents' house. I left their house for good over seventy years ago. I'd not been back to visit, and I'd had very limited contact with them. I knew now that no matter how much time passed, they weren't going to change. They would be cut off completely. I was going to go no contact with them.

The plan was going to be shared with my grandparents later this evening. I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of going to see them. I'd not necessarily lied—that wasn't possible—but I'd not told them the entire truth either. That was on me, and I was going to have to own up to it at this point.

I should have told them years ago. They had visited every so often, and of course, Mother was always on her best behavior then. I should have spoken up. Aside from Mother, we were all shifters. All it had taken was for me to tell them how she was treating me. They would have been able to tell I was telling the truth. Why hadn't I though? I was a bit intimidated by Grandfather Vitomir. But I was more afraid of how difficult my life would have been if they didn't step in, if Father had said he would take care of it.

My second alarm sounded, and I reached for my phone to turn it off. It was time to get up and face the day. I tossed the blanket back and climbed out of bed. First stop, the bathroom to take care of my morning needs and then to grab a quick shower. I needed a haircut, but that could wait. For now, a shower and some hair product to keep it tamed would do.

Fifteen minutes after climbing out of bed, I was dressed and left the bedroom. The coffee hadn't brewed because I'd been too upset to set it up last evening, but that was all right. It wouldn't take too terribly long to brew a pot, and I could start breakfast while my coffee maker worked its magic.

I was in the middle of eating breakfast when I stopped and looked around the little cabin. It was cute. It was small, but there was just me. But I realized I was truly boring. I didn't have much of a life at all. I went to work, I came home, I had dinner, and either watched TV or read a book. On the weekends, I went for a quick run up on the mountain, but that was it. I didn't have friends, really, and I didn't have a whole lot of hobbies. I kept to myself because I'd always been by myself. My siblings were all an entire generation older than I was. I had grown up fairly isolated, and I realized I was still that way.

Sure, I had a job, and I talked to Dr. King a little. But that was pretty much it. Of course, there was Grandpa Lev, but he had his own life, and he was busy helping Grandfather. Where did all of that leave me? I set the fork down and shook my head. Alone. I was alone and most likely would remain that way. That was just depressing, now that I actually thought about it. I'd scented my mate yesterday on top of everything else, and he didn't even acknowledge what we were to one another.

I could handle my parents being my parents like always. But Warwick. Even his name was sexy and oh so fitting. He looked like he was most certainly ready to go to war. And why did I find that sexy? I knew almost nothing about him, but he was massive, and I just knew that if he actually wanted me for his mate, he could protect me from people like my parents. But he didn't seem to, so I would go on as if I'd never met him.

At least I wouldn't have to worry about going into heat because I'd met my mate. I didn't have those, so I wouldn't suffer wanting my alpha. But my bear was another matter. He already wanted Warwick. How would I be able to continue in my position here with the council when I knew my mate was here and all but rejected me?

I shook my head at my thoughts. I stood and decided it was past time to get to work. It was going to be a long, drawn-out day as it was, so I might as well get it started. I scraped the rest of my breakfast into the trash, and after rinsing my plate, I placed it in the dishwasher. I grabbed my keys and then my wallet and phone before I walked to the front door. I locked it behind me, just to be safe, and then walked to my cute little car that Timothy had been kind enough to bring here to the house for me. I snorted at the thought of Warwick trying to squeeze into it. That wouldn't be an issue though, so it didn't really matter.

It didn't take long to get to the cabin. Once there, I realized I'd been so out of it that I'd not brought a lunch, nor had I thought to bring a travel mug of coffee. I sighed. I could, of course, get coffee at the office. Dr. King had a coffee maker in our little break room. But not having a lunch wouldn't be fun.

I glanced at the clock on my dash. I didn't have time to go home and pack something. I'd make do without, but I kicked myself. I really needed to be more focused today, or things would go to the crapper in a hurry. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I skipped lunch, and I could always walk over to the bakery or store and grab something.

I turned off the car and climbed out. There were two other people inside waiting when I walked in. I was a little surprised because usually whoever was in charge of taking us up to the mountain was more on it this time of the morning.

I glanced around and realized they most likely weren't waiting on Timothy or whoever happened to be working this morning. These two were hellhounds.

"Excuse me," I said as I tried to reach the wall where I could push the button and call for Timothy. I was a bit surprised he wasn't down here already.

"We need to talk to you, Cecil."

I was a bit surprised they knew my name. I shouldn't have been though. Almost everyone knew I was related to Alpha Vitomir.

"Umm. Do I know you?" I asked.

The one who hadn't spoken shook his head and hit the other one on the upper arm. "Don't scare him, Damien," he said, then looked directly at me. "Don't mind him. Seriously. That's Damien, and I'm Atticus."

I slowly nodded. "All right. What is it you want to talk to me about?"

"Yes, that," Atticus said.

"I told you this wasn't a good idea," Damien said.

"Well, if we left things completely up to Warwick, he would mess it up completely."

They already had my attention, but the mention of Warwick completely grabbed it. "What about Warwick?" I looked between the two expectantly.

"Just be understanding and patient," Atticus said.

I was confused, and I knew it showed.

"You're not really helping much either," Damien said. "We should have brought Benjamin or someone who is a bit better with words."

"Hmm," Atticus said. "Oh, Master Edison. I bet he could explain it all in a hurry."

I shook my head. "Neither of you are making too much sense, and I really need to get to work," I told them. I tried to reach for the button on the wall, but when I touched Atticus's shoulder, my stomach flipped. And it was way more intense than it ever was with Timothy. I suddenly found myself standing outside the council building when I glanced around.

"Thanks for the lift," I said.

"Wait," Damien said.

I stopped, not that I'd gone far—only one step.

"Something you should know and understand about hellhounds," Atticus said. "We weren't gifted mates in our realm. We were simply used as pawns in our master's twisted games."

I wasn't sure I wanted to know what exactly that meant. I knew there were hellhounds here in the council and that they were enforcers, but I didn't know much beyond that. They were both shifters as well as magic users, which I found both odd and fascinating.

"What about it? So you don't have mates. Got it," I told them. I tried to take a step again, and it was Damien who stopped me this time. I let out a low, rumbling growl. "Again, I need to get to work. Despite my connection to Alpha Vitomir, I do still have a job, as well as responsibilities. You are hindering those at the moment."

"We're sorry," Atticus said. I turned my glare in his direction. "You will be a good match for sure."

"I have no clue what you're talking about. Now, if you could please let me pass."

"Cecil?"

I was never so thrilled and relieved to hear Dr. King's voice. I looked around the wall of hellhound that was in front of me and sent what I hoped was an imploring look in my boss's direction. Damien finally moved a step closer to Atticus, and I was able to get around them and hurried over to Dr. King.

"Are you all right?" Dr. King asked. He seemed worried, something that I knew came naturally to him.

"I'm good. Just trying to get to work."

"Dr. King, if we could have just another moment of time with Cecil, please," Atticus said. My shoulders slumped.

"If Cecil agrees, sure. But I'd say he doesn't exactly wish to continue with whatever you were discussing."

"We're fucking things up, which seems to be par for the course when it comes to hellhounds and our mates."

I blinked, took another step back, and then another. I couldn't go farther because I'd stepped back into Dr. King's chest. I shook my head. Nope, I wasn't going to be the mate to the hellhounds. I wasn't interested in being shared with them.

"Sorry, not interested," I said. I tried to move, but Dr. King kept me in place with a hand on my shoulder. I felt the chest behind me moving, and it took me a moment to realize that Dr. King was trying to keep from laughing and failing. I glared at him, and Dr. King shook his head.

"You have to understand, Cecil. Hellhounds aren't exactly good at getting their act together when it comes to their mates. Well, at least not until after they've claimed them." Dr. King looked down at me. "You should have seen Damien trying to not stick his foot in his mouth before he and Ledger claimed each other. It was painful to watch but also amusing."

"Thank you so much for that, Dr. King. When you can't scent your mate and they get frustrated with you for not acting like a shifter, it's frustrating."

I was confused. "Wait," I said, stepping away from Dr. King just a bit. "You aren't asking me to be your mate, then?" I pointed to both of them. "All of your mate?"

"What?" Damien asked. "No. We're both mated. To separate people." Damien's eyes widened. "Is that what you thought we were saying?"

I nodded, and Dr. King groaned. "Who is his mate?" Dr. King asked, his eyes meeting mine. "Who did you scent, Cecil?"

Did I dare answer? If I just denied it, it wouldn't matter, right? Dr. King raised an eyebrow at me, and I relented. "Warwick," I whispered. "But he didn't seem to acknowledge me. And I'd just had a really shitty experience with my parents."

Dr. King nodded. "Yes, I'm aware of that. Alpha mate Lev was by the clinic already this morning to let me know you had a rough time yesterday evening with your parents and that you might be a bit down today."

I sighed. I wasn't upset with Grandpa. He was doing what he thought was the right thing, and in reality, it was.

"Do we need to go have an intimidating talk with his parents?" Atticus asked.

I looked over at him with wide eyes.

"I don't think that's necessary. Alpha mate Lev made it sound as if Alpha Vitomir had already taken care of it," Dr. King said.

"Why would you go talk to my parents?" I asked.

Atticus stepped closer. "Because you're pack now, Cecil. Even if you're not claimed yet, and who knows how long it will take Warwick to get around to that, we still take care of our pack."

"Do we need to have some sort of intervention talk with Warwick?" Dr. King asked.

Damien snorted. "We tried last night. I'm not sure it will have done any good. He admitted that his beast is definitely pulled in Cecil's direction and that he tried to take Cecil to his place instead of the transport building like Alpha Vitomir asked."

My eyes widened. "Is that why he took me to his house?" I asked. "He then grunted and pointed at the door. Basically telling me to get out. I thought he was upset with me. Or he just didn't really want me."

Atticus shook his head. "His beast took over. He was flustered because he didn't have control over himself completely just then, and he was afraid of what might happen next. Trust me when I tell you he won't ever intentionally harm you. He's probably going to bruise your heart a time or two though," Atticus said and then sighed. "I completely shattered my own mate's because I denied our connection for a decade."

"A decade?" I asked, entirely too loud. "And then he forgave you?" I wasn't sure I could forgive Warwick if he ignored me for ten years. That was a very long time for resentment to build. Why would someone want to be apart from their mate for so long? I didn't understand that.

"I was very lucky that he chose to forgive me. And it wasn't an immediate thing. I had to work on proving to him that I was sorry."

"So what is the plan?" Dr. King asked. "I assume that I'll be losing my office manager soon, and I'll need to make accommodations."

"The plan is that hopefully Warwick will talk to Cecil today. He was talking to Master Edison just a little while ago. We tried to get him to understand what his beast was trying to tell him yesterday. Cecil saying he scented Warwick confirms what we were trying to tell him."

I looked at Dr. King. "No, I'm not going anywhere," I told him.

"You most certainly will be going somewhere," Dr. King said. "You know how it works with omegas when they meet their mate. And the council will give Warwick time off to take care of you and for the two of you to strengthen your bond."

I wanted to argue but instead kept quiet. I didn't need to announce to everyone standing here that I wasn't like other omegas. That I couldn't give Warwick children. And thinking about that, it was possible that he would decide that he didn't want me. Then that would solve all of the issues of needing time off. It would hurt, but I'd lived with a lifetime of hurt already. This one would hurt more though; I just knew it.

"Just give him a chance?" Damien asked. "He's going to fumble. Part of that is because he's a hellhound. A bigger part is because he's Warwick. He's quiet. Mostly because that's just who he is. But in part because of how he's seen by others. Warwick isn't exactly a small man."

"His size doesn't bother me," I interrupted. "And he's always been kind when he's talked to me." Granted, it had only been twice, and only one of those times had we both been shifted and able to speak. But even that first time, Warwick had been concerned for me and had asked if I was lost.

"Maybe give him a little push?" Atticus suggested. "I'm not sure how it works as my mate is another alpha, but try some of that omega charm I've heard about from other enforcers?"

I snorted. Dr. King chuckled. "Omegas do indeed have a way about them. Thank you for the heads-up. I'm sure that Cecil and Warwick will be able to figure things out."

I looked up at Dr. King, but my gaze was caught by Warwick, who was standing not far away. I'd not noticed him, but Dr. King had. My boss glanced down at me and smiled. "It's a very slow day today. Only one appointment. Take all the time you need, and if you don't show up, I'll not worry too much. But just remember, he's your mate, and the two of you can go at your own pace."

I nodded. "Thanks, Dr. King."

I peeked back over to Warwick and found him quietly talking to Atticus. Damien was still standing near us, and I looked over to the other hellhound in question.

"He'll be a great mate. But he's probably going to take a bit of time to get used to."

"Doesn't every mate?" I asked. "Learning to live with another person is always an adjustment." Why would Warwick be any different? It was true, he knew him better than I did. But did they think I would give up on my mate simply because of who he was? I was a little more understanding, but not much.

"Cecil?"

I turned at the sound of my name coming from my mate. I smiled at him, and everyone else around seemed to disappear.

"Hi, Warwick."